16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.” 19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”
Killing babies represents the extreme depravity to which an insecure mind sinks. Herod had been duped by the magi, so he sent his soldiers on a rampage, destroying all possibility of the Child growing up. (Targeting all boys up to two years old suggests that some time may have passed since the birth of Christ.) Psalm 2:2 foretold that “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed.” Herod was the first of such kings! The psalm goes on, “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.” (vss.10-11). Herod’s lip-service and failure to do as warned is pure irony, especially in contrast to the wise men who traveled a great distance to do the very thing Herod should have done.
The priests and religious leaders were of the same sentiment, though their opposition was postponed for 30 some odd years. At the present time they would not even bother themselves to walk the five or so miles to Bethlehem and at least check out the report. Obviously, if this were truly the Messiah they would be exposed as holding only to a form of religion but not really being loyal to God. Better, they thought, it would be to ignore what was happening and maybe it will go away, or at least let Herod do the dirty work. However, one ignores God at one’s own peril!
It was only after Herod died that Joseph, Mary and Jesus made their way back to Israel, again at the direction of an angel. By now, Joseph, being convinced of the danger, needed a divine push to return.
Side application: We live in a fallen world among fallen people who do terrible things. Therefore, sometimes people suffer because of others’ sins.
Lord, I confess the hollowness of my spiritual life when I am more concerned about how I appear rather than truly walking faithfully with You. Help me not to let my self-centeredness cause damage to others.
Though I have been a Christian for 45 years, my self-centeredness doesn’t go away easily. A.B.Simpson in Book One of The Christ in the Bible, lists 31 types of selfishness, comparing them to the 31 kings Joshua and the people of Israel were to conquer in taking possession of the Promised land. I found that list helpful in identifying some stubborn kings to get rid of in my own life.
Best regards, in Christ. Brian